scholarly journals Risk Aversion and Timber Harvest Strategies: A Case Study of Nonindustrial Private Forest Management in Louisiana

Author(s):  
Hua Wang ◽  
Naveen Adusumilli ◽  
Michael Blazier ◽  
Santosh Pathak

AbstractForest owners face many challenges regarding forest management due to the long period from planting to harvest. Along with the economic and environmental factors that influence management actions, the owners' attitude to risk plays a crucial role in forest management decisions. This study shows that understanding the effects of the owner's risk preference for management actions is an important step to form an effective forest policy. The objectives of the study are to (1) assess the economic advantage of forest management alternatives over a range of risk aversion coefficients and (2) determine the financial incentive (risk premium) corresponding to a forest owners' risk attitude. We implemented the stochastic efficiency with respect to a function framework to evaluate a set of fertilization, herbicide, and thinning management alternatives at mid-rotation loblolly pine plantations in Louisiana. Results from this study indicate that forest owner's risk preference affects their decision to select management actions. Financial incentives are substantially different for specific management alternatives between risk-neutral and risk-averse forest owners. The results can guide forest policy development where agencies can modify financial assistance programs to improve the adoption of management actions.

1994 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 265-267
Author(s):  
Victor Brunette

In Quebec, where the resource based industry has prevailed for many decades, a good portion of history is based on forestry and agriculture. Farmers and woodlot owners have been involved with primary products marketing structures for more than 25 years. Forest policy development for non industrial private forests has evolved in different ways in neighbouring provinces but intrinsic problems related to forest management, forest harvesting and products marketing are quite similar for all woodlot owners.The area under small private ownership in Québec covers only 9 per cent of the productive forest land. These woodlots nonetheless supply each year about 18 per cent of the timber needed by the wood using industry. The revenue of wood sales, the financial value of forest management, the upkeep of 10,000 jobs and the purchase of goods and services contribute 400 million dollars to the provincial economy. The annual harvest on private woodlots yields a final processed value of more than 1.5 billion dollars of forest products.Private woodlots are located along major waterways, in the southern part of the province, where growing conditions are the most suitable to forest crops. The woodlot sector benefits from the availability of a qualified and motivated labour force, from a well-developed road network and other infrastructures. Forest cover is 60 per cent hardwoods and 40 per cent softwoods. Only 24 per cent of the growing stock is spruce, fir, and jack pine, species which have traditionally been in strong demand for the pulp and paper industry. (FPBQ, 1989).There are inherent disadvantages to private forestry in Quebec such as the great dispersion of the individual woodlots and the small area of each woodlot (107 hectares for active pulpwood producers; 60 hectares per owner). The development of these forests must also overcome other disadvantages including the great number of owners (120,000) and the fact that many of these owners sometimes lack information and incentive.


2011 ◽  
Vol 87 (04) ◽  
pp. 488-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Duinker

The aim of the paper is to take stock, based on my personal scholarly and practical experiences, of the progress made in Canada with criteria and indicators of sustainable forest management (C&I-SFM). Some developmental history is reviewed, and applications at national and local levels are summarized. In my opinion, Canada's work in developing and applying C&I-SFM has been beneficial, particularly in focussing forest-sector dialogues, in sensitizing people to the wide range of forest values, and in retrospective determinations of progress in SFM. Improvements over the next decade are needed in several areas: (a) improving data-collection programs; (b) linking C&I-SFM more directly into forest policy development; (c) shifting from retrospective to prospective sustainability analysis; and (d) applying C&I-SFM to non-industrial forests such as protected areas and urban forests. The C&I-SFM concept is sound. We have yet to tap its full potential in the pursuit of forest and forest-sector sustainability.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-104
Author(s):  
Бурганов ◽  
Farit Burganov ◽  
Минниханов ◽  
Azat Minnikhanov ◽  
Файзрахманов ◽  
...  

Nowadays, the forest policy in the field of forest management and husbandry in the Russian Federation is aimed at the possibility of wood realization, produced by different forest owners. The solution of this sharp problem in the Republic of Tatarstan is more associated with the launch of the plant in Elabuga for the production of resin-bonded chipboard, which served as a stimulus for action by the Ministry of Forestry, and it became necessary to make optimal computational wood-cutting area and placement volumes of storage for forest districts of Tatarstan. The article discusses: the structure of forest stands by groups of tree species and age groups of the Republic of Tatarstan as of 01.01.2016; the distribution of forest by age class; the allocation of forest areas of the the Republic of Tatarstan by dominant species in the period from 1940 to 2016.


2003 ◽  
Vol 154 (7) ◽  
pp. 243-248
Author(s):  
Heinz Kasper

Conditions in the canton of Argovia for efficient forest management are relatively good. The natural conditions and the present condition of the forests allow a high degree of sustainable yield with a high proportion of valuable, goodquality wood. The character of the new Argovian Forest Law is liberal and grants a great measure of freedom to forest owners in organisational and managerial matters. The progress in rationalisation achieved by restructuration over the past ten years has been considerable, but largely cancelled out by falling wood prices. Future development will depend, not least, on the goals and values of the political authorities as the largest group of forest owners.


2018 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-179
Author(s):  
Adam Kaliszewski

Abstract The aim of the paper was to evaluate the priorities set for policy-making in forestry formulated under the Forest Europe process and in programmes, policies, strategies and legal acts of the European Union after 1997, which is also the year when the Polish ‘National Forest Policy’ was adopted by the Council of Ministers. During the last two decades, rapid policy development has been occurring Europe-wide. Forest policy goals defined within the Forest Europe process have also been reflected in EU’s strategic documents and legal acts and both processes are complementary as well as influencing each other. Forest policy priorities after 1997 cover all three major aspects of sustainable forest management (SFM): ecological, economic and social. However, the main emphasis has been put on economic and social aspects of SFM. The key priorities defined in numerous Forest Europe and EU documents are the following: enhancing the role of forests and forest management in mitigating climate change including the promotion of production and wide use of wood; adapting forests to climate change and changing environmental conditions; conserving, protecting and enhancing forest biodiversity; enhancing the role of forests and forest management in rural development; fostering coordination and cross-sectoral cooperation within forestry. The need for enhancing forest research has been pointed out in almost all analysed Forest Europe commitments as well as in numerous EU documents.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0256654
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Miner ◽  
Puneet Dwivedi ◽  
Robert Izlar ◽  
Danielle Atkins ◽  
Parag Kadam

As the number of female forest landowners (FFLs) in the United States continues to rise, there is an increasing need to understand the perceptions of stakeholder groups about opportunities and challenges faced by FFLs in the context of sustainable forestland management. This study utilizes the technique of SWOT-AHP (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Treats—Analytical Hierarchy Process) to understand the perceptions of four stakeholder groups (FFLs, private foresters, government representatives, and non-profits) in Georgia–a significant forestry state located in the Southern United States. Sixteen factors (four under each SWOT category) were selected through a comprehensive literature review and detailed interviews with individuals from the identified stakeholder groups. A survey was created using these factors that asked stakeholders to compare them in their respective SWOT categories. An additional survey was created for each stakeholder group where survey participants compared the highest-ranking factors in each SWOT category. We found that all stakeholder groups prioritized weaknesses over the other SWOT categories. Results showed a significant need for relevant educational outreach programs that cater specifically to FFLs. Additionally, researchers found a need to promote the interest of future generations in forestland management as all stakeholder groups felt that limited interest from future generations was the most important threat. This study will directly feed into regional, national, and international attempts to increase the participation of minority family forest landowners in sustainable forest management through integrated forest policy development.


2009 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan R Duckert ◽  
Dave M Morris ◽  
Dave Deugo ◽  
Shelagh Duckett ◽  
Scott McPherson

In anticipation of the review and revision of Ontario's current site protection guidelines, a site disturbance task team was formed in 2004. Over the next two years, they conducted an extensive review of the scientific literature and existing guidelines from other jurisdictions, as well as engaging both forest industry partners and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) field services personnel in a consensus building exercise (i.e., client survey, field tours, and formal workshops). The goal of their efforts was to develop a set of provincial-level site disturbance standards with metrics to be considered as part of Ontario's new stand/site guide scheduled for release in 2009 and implemented in the 2011 forest management plans. The process developed by the task team was a pro-active approach that engaged the end users of the product throughout the process and should provide stronger accountability to the public and increase competency in our practices. Setting the first iteration of a standard as a practical benchmark for rutting (depth 3 cm, length 4 m and cumulative limits for each harvest block - 10% for clearcut and 2% for partial cut systems) will allow the forest industry to adapt to the approach relatively easily and provide a visual indicator of performance. It was stressed that there needs to be a rigorous effectiveness monitoring protocol based on objective-based silviculture that is integrated within an adaptive management framework. This, in turn, will provide local science and evidence to: (1) conduct a comprehensive evaluation to the effects and impacts of site disturbance, (2) provide a quantitative, results-based evaluation of the effectiveness of the proposed guidelines, and (3) increase core competency and performance with respect to silviculture effectiveness and the role of soil disturbance in meeting our forest management objectives. Without a strong commitment and linkage of compliance, effectiveness, and validation monitoring, Ontario's forest policy development will largely remain in a state of "repeat or react" rather than "evaluate and adjust". Key words: Soil disturbance standards, science/policy linkages, adaptive management


2001 ◽  
Vol 152 (12) ◽  
pp. 531-533
Author(s):  
Werner Schärer

Modern forest policy must take the following two conditions into account:1. Forest policy is an intersectoral policy involving elements of regional policy, nature conservation and landscape protection policy, as well as agricultural, clean-air, climate and economic policies.2. It is the joint task of the federal authorities, cantons, municipalities,relevant organisations and forest owners. Over the next few years, Buwal will develop a forestry programme for Switzerland together with all the relevant actors,which will fulfil both current and forthcoming forest policy requirements at both national and international levels.


2000 ◽  
Vol 151 (12) ◽  
pp. 472-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Kissling-Näf

A group of international experts evaluated whether the aims and instruments of Swiss forest policy are suitable for the promotion of sustainable forest management based on the pan-European criteria. Approach and main results are presented as well as the method developed for the definition of sustainability indicators as an instrument for the evaluation of sectoral policies and the possibility of a transfer of methods and indicators on an international level.


1999 ◽  
Vol 150 (12) ◽  
pp. 484-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolf Hockenjos

Concepts of near-natural forestry are in great demand these days. Most German forest administrations and private forest enterprises attach great importance to being as «near-natural» as possible. This should allow them to make the most of biological rationalisation. The concept of near-natural forestry is widely accepted, especially by conservationists. However, it is much too early to analyse how successful near-natural forestry has been to date, and therefore to decide whether an era of genuine near-natural forest management has really begun. Despite wide-spread recognition, near-natural forestry is jeopardised by mechanised timber harvesting, and particularly by the large-timber harvester. The risk is that machines, which are currently just one element of the timber harvest will gain in importance and gradually become the decisive element. The forest would then be forced to meet the needs of machinery, not the other way round. Forests would consequently become so inhospitable that they would bear no resemblance to the sylvan image conjured up by potential visitors. This could mean taking a huge step backwards: from a near-natural forest to a forest dominated by machinery. The model of multipurpose forest management would become less viable, and the forest would become divided into areas for production, and separate areas for recreation and ecology. The consequences of technical intervention need to be carefully considered, if near-natural forestry is not to become a thing of the past.


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